Covering an area of 276 square miles, Anglesey is the largest island in Wales. It also has the second highest island population in Britain, yet with such a vast number of beaches, footpaths, forests and lakes, you don’t have to look far to discover your own slice of peace and solitude.

This five-mile circular walk, first heading inland before retuning along the coast, is the perfect way to celebrate the Anglesey landscape, its history and its wildlife.

Porth Wen Brickworks

1. Chapel

The walk begins at Cemaes Bay at the northern end of Traeth Mawr beach. Leave the car park in a north-easterly direction, and proceed along a lane until you meet a junction. Turn right, then shortly after left over a stone style.

Continue on this path along the bottom of a valley and go through a kissing gate, over a style and into a private garden, where you will cross the lawn and enter a field on the other side. Cross the field through a gap in the stone wall, continue across the bridge, up some stone steps, over a wall, and on to a country lane.

2. Porth Wen

Turn right and walk along the lane for around one mile. You will see a chapel on your right, before passing two paths around 30 metres apart on the left side of the lane. Take the first path through a kissing gate adjacent to a farm entrance. Head north-east through a field before passing through another kissing gate. Follow the path downhill, joining the Coast Path at a junction. Keep left and pass the chimney stacks of the old brick works – Porth Wen – on your right. Continue up the hill on to the Coastal Path.

You have a good chance of spotting some oystercatchers en route, particularly once you reach the coast

3. Llanbadrig Church

Continue along the cliffs before descending and ascending to and from the gorge of Hells Mouth and on to and old look-out tower. Continue down the steps to Porth Llanlleiana, and then climb up the steps to continue walking along the cliffs. Pass around the church yard and follow the stone road on to a larger road.

4. Back to Cemaes

Walk down the road for a short distance and then turn off through a kissing gate on the right, located in a dip. Follow the Coastal Path around the headland and on to the final stretch of the walk. Enjoy views across the bay to Cemaes from here.

Useful information

How to get there

Cross the Britannia Bridge on the A55 to Anglesey then take the A5025 north coast road to Cemaes. There’s signed parking near the beach.